Education

McLeod earned his BA from Yale University in 1959. He went on to receive his LLB from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1964. He then attended the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in 1972, and the University of Nevada National Judicial College in 1993.

Professional experience

McLeod served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant from 1959 to 1961. He also served in Active Duty in the Navy from 1959 to 1961, in 1963, and again in 1990. He served to Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the United States Navy Reserves from 1959 to 1992. McLeod then worked as a Law Clerk for Chief Judge Clement Haynsworth of the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1964 to 1965. He then worked as an attorney for Pope & Schumpert from 1965 to 1967. From 1967 to 168, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Department of Justice's District of South Carolina. He then served as Deputy Attorney General for the South Carolina Office of Attorney General from 1987 to 1988. He was also General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control from 1968 to 1994.

Political experience

McLeod served as a Magistrate Judge for the Newberry County Magistrates Court from 1973 to 1981. In 1984, he was a Delegate to the Democratic National Committee. He then served as a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee from 1986 to 1990. He was also a State Committeeman for the Newberry County Democratic Party during this time. In 1988, McLeod served on the Democratic National Convention Committee. He then served as Mayor of the Town of Little Mountain from 1983 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1996. He joined the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1997. He has served in that position since, representing the 40th District.